Drug Suspect Busted For Possession Of Curiously Strong Mints

A drug suspect tried to convince cops that a plastic bag found in his backpack contained breath mints, not meth, according to an arrest report.

Stephen Whalen, 32, was driving a PT Cruiser Thursday afternoon when a patrolman in Tarpon Springs, Florida spotted him behind the wheel. The officer knew Whalen from a “prior police related incident” and was aware his driver’s license had been revoked.

Whalen, seen at right, was taken into custody and the Chrysler was searched. Inside Whalen’s backpack police say they found assorted drug paraphernalia and a baggie containing 2.6 grams of meth.

When questioned about the seized narcotics, Whalen reportedly said that, “the meth was not meth and it was breath mints,” a cop reported. Whalen “would not elaborate on anything else” regarding his curiously strong mints.

Charged with possession of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia, and driving without a license, Whalen was booked into the county jail on $4400 bond.

Whalen’s rap sheet includes convictions for battery; burglary; narcotics sales; trespass; dealing in stolen property; narcotics possession; and providing a false name to law enforcement. Whalen was released from state prison in February 2020 after serving about 18 months in custody on multiple drug convictions.